Decorative Removable Helmet Cover

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a decorative removable helmet cover that covers a helmet snugly. The cover can be made of one or multiple sections. On the cover is displayed logos or patterns that make the wearing of helmets more acceptable and attractive for activity doers, without creating a situation of the material flapping around and causing noise or distractions.

This application claims priority to the PCT International ApplicationNumber PCT/US2005/027733 filed on Aug. 5, 2005, for Decorative RemovableHelmet Cover, the contents of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates, generally, to helmet covers. More particularlythe invention relates to helmet covers that are removable and allow anunlimited number of inter-changeable decorative patterns and logos to beworn by the user over the protective portion of the helmet.

BACKGROUND

Protective helmets are utilized in a variety of activities in order toprotect the wearer from head injuries. Such activities includemotorcycling, skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, auto racing, football,hockey, baseball, and other activities in which there is a reasonablyhigh likelihood of injuries if the head is not protected in some way.

The problem is that the appearance of helmets, for example motorcyclehelmets, are generally nondescript or even unpalatable. Individualbikers, for example, cannot customize their helmets to stand out fromother bikers with helmets, nor can bikers identify a specific group ofbikers amongst other groups. Thus, for the above reasons manyindividuals may choose not to wear helmets at the risk of their ownsafety.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,836 discloses an elastic fabric cover designed foruse with conventional hard hats, constructed of an elastic material, thecover stretches to fit over and contracts to fit the contour of a hardhat structure with one stiffened segment located on the main body.However, the presence of a sole stiffened segment, for the purpose ofdisplaying visual media or a logo thereon, fails to make the helmetcover any more attractive. Moreover, the invention's purpose was toavoid problems of placing images onto a fabric to be placed on the hardhat. Finally, the invention could be problematic because the elasticcover does not have a well defined excess of material to accommodatesnugly the protuberance of the brim.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,122 B1, discloses a removable helmet cover thatincludes a flexible dome-shaped soft cloth exterior surface disposed ontop of a flexible dome-shaped soft cloth interior liner. However, thishelmet cover could be problematic because the elastic cover does nothave a well defined excess of material to accommodate snugly theprotuberance of the brim to secure the cover to the helmet. Moreover,the patent only discloses designs encompassing odd shapes that protrudeoutwards from the helmet and that may limit the attractiveness of thesehelmets to only a certain group of helmet wearers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,799 B1, discloses a flexible cover with an outerperiphery and an elastic material that is disposed near the outerperiphery. Again this invention suffers from the facts that it has oddshapes, and that it does not have a well defined excess of material toaccommodate snugly the protuberance of the brim to secure the cover tothe helmet.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,336 discloses a stretchable fabric cover which slipsover a helmet shell and snugly fits thereon. This invention suffers fromthe fact that it has a peak section for accommodating a horse ridinghelmet, and is thus not well-suited for a motorcycle-style helmet.

U.S. Pat. D362,085 discloses a helmet cover. This invention suffers fromthe fact that it has a conforming structure that appears to make thecover permanently installed/difficult to remove.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,752 discloses a cover for protecting a helmet,including a drawstring. This invention suffers from the fact that it isdesigned entirely enclose a helmet for, e.g., storage, and thus is notappropriate to use during helmet wearing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,860 discloses a helmet cover with an outer peripheryand fastening means disposed near the outer periphery. This inventionsuffers from the fact that it does not include flexible material toaccommodate snugly a helmet or the protuberance of the brim to securethe cover to the helmet.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,990 discloses a ballistic cover for a helmet,including an outer periphery having loops to accommodate a pretensionedcord to retain the cover on the helmet. This invention suffers from thefact that it does not have a well defined excess of material toaccommodate snugly the protuberance of the brim to secure the cover tothe helmet.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,888 discloses a padded cover for partially coveringa helmet, including an outer periphery and flexible tabs disposed nearthe outer periphery. This invention suffers from the facts that it hascumbersome padding, it does not cover the helmet entirely such thatportions of the underlying helmet are visible, and it does not have awell defined excess of material to accommodate snugly the protuberanceof the brim to secure the cover to the helmet.

Therefore, there has been a long felt need in the art for helmet covers,which are removable, and allow bikers to individualize themselves fromothers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed towards overcoming the lack of individualityof helmets. The invention is directed to a decorative removable helmetcover that will make the wearing of helmets more acceptable for activitydoers.

The invention discloses a decorative removable helmet cover that has amaterial that covers a helmet, where the material has a front and backend, and an elastic rim surrounding the cover, where the rim is used toattach the cover onto the underside portions of the helmet.

In various embodiments, the rim can include one or more fasteners forfixing the cover to the helmet, including elastic, a drawstring, snaps,buttons, hook and loop material, hoops, a band, clips, hooks, flexibletabs, a hanger, and springs.

In one embodiment of the invention, the decorative removable helmetcover material is made of flexible material.

In another embodiment of the invention, the decorative removable helmetcover material is made of cloth. Alternatively, the material is made ofnon-cloth material of a wide variety of types.

In a further embodiment, the decorative removable helmet cover has acover material that is made of one continuous piece.

In another embodiment, the decorative removable helmet cover has a covermaterial that is made of a plurality of pieces.

In other embodiments, the decorative removable helmet cover has a coverwhere the sections are made of pleated fabric or with material withpiping.

In another embodiment the invention has a decorative removable helmetcover that displays logos. Alternatively, the decorative removablehelmet cover displays patterns.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide adecorative cover that will enable to display creative designs on his orher helmet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover that isremovable and easily washable, to protect the helmet and cover fromdirt, grime and scratches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the cover material casing a helmet.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the cover material casing a helmetworn by an individual.

FIG. 3 is a view of the loose cover material unattached to the helmet.

FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the cover material casing ahelmet.

FIG. 5 is a view of the loose cover material unattached to the helmet,illustrating an embodiment including a fastener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of various embodiments of theinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments ofthe invention, however, one or more embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without any of these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not beendescribed in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects ofembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the material cover casing a helmet 4showing the material 6 which is totally surrounded by an elastic rim 10,of which only the back end portion 5 of the elastic rim is shown. Theelastic rim allows the material to attach onto the underside portions ofthe helmet. The material 6 has a front end 7 and a back end 8. The frontend 7 is well defined over the back end 8 in order to accommodate theprotuberance of the brim.

In an alternate embodiment, the elastic rim 10 may be replaced by orincorporate any other means of cinching the edge of the helmet cover,for example, a drawstring, a zipper, snaps, buttons, hook and loopmaterial, hoops, a band, clips, hooks, flexible tabs, a hanger, andsprings. The fastening means can include portions attached to both thehelmet and the cover.

FIG. 2 shows that the material 6 can be made of multiple sections 11,12, and 13. Of course, more or fewer sections then the three shown arepossible. The sections can be joined together by methods known in theart such as, but not limited to, sewing. Moreover, the material could bepleated and/or made with piping.

Various art logos and patterns (herein defined as art work) can bedisplayed on the helmet cover. The art work may include, but is notlimited to, words, colors, college colors, sports team colors, crests,state or national flags, flame designs, motorcycles, cars, airplanes,boats, dice, cards, lips, body parts, military camouflage, beach scenes,starscapes, constellations, psychedelic patterns, paisley patterns,plaid patterns, animal coat patterns, cartoon figures, or famous worksof art. The type of materials that may be used, but are not limited to:cloth, suede, corduroy, denim, linen, silk, velour, leather, felt,polyester, nylon, straw, mesh, vinyl, plastics, glow-in-the darkmaterials, reflective materials, illuminative materials,electroluminescent-phosphor-containing-materials, or any of a number ofsynthetic fabrics, such as those available from INVISTA (4123 East 37thStreet North, Wichita, Kans. 67220; www.invista.com), including, but notlimited to, T400™, ANTRON®, AVANTIGE®+LYCRA®, CORDURA®, DACRON®, LYCRA®,SOLARMAX®, SUPPLEX®, TACTEL®, and THERMOLITE®.

Thus, it should be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art thatan infinite number of patterns of art work on helmet covers arepossible. Even more combinations are possible because art work may belimited to one section, such as section 11 or alternatively, the artwork may be displayed on multiple sections, such as sections 11, 12, and13.

The art work could either be displayed on the cover using imprinting,sewing, or any other method known to a person of ordinary skill in theart that is capable of displaying art work onto fabric or othermaterials.

FIG. 2 also shows the material snugly casing a helmet 4 and the backside end 5 elastic region of the elastic rim 10 that attach onto theunderside of the helmet.

In FIG. 3 a loose material cover 6 of the invention is shown disclosingthe elastic rim 10.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the front end of the material 7, theback end 8 of the material, the rim of the helmet 9 and the elastic rim10 surrounding the cover material.

FIG. 5 illustrates the cover 6 including fastener 20. Fastener 20 of theillustrated embodiment is a hoop, attached at one end of the cover 6 viathe rim 10. Alternatively, the attachment point of the hoop on the cover6 can be moved downward, to allow a portion of the cover 6 to extendinward when the cover 6 is installed in the helmet, such that the cover6 extends inward along the entire circumference of the helmet to fullyreceive the hoop. In use, the cover 6 is arranged over the helmet, suchthat the rim 10 is positioned to overlap inwardly the edge of thehelmet. The inward overlap can be accomplished via elastic, ordrawstring, or other techniques. The fastener 20 is then pushed withinthe circumference of the helmet, sandwiching an overlapping portion ofthe rim 10 between the fastener 20 and the interior of the helmet. Asillustrated, the fastener 20 is a fixed hoop corresponding to aparticular circumference. However, the fastener 20 can includeadjustability to accommodate various circumferences and/or contours ofhelmets. Because the fastener 20 is attached only to the cover 6 and isconfigured to accommodate the helmet, it is not necessary to perform anymodifications to the helmet.

The cover 6 can be fastened to the helmet using a variety of fastenertypes. For example, the fastener can include elastic, a drawstring,snaps, buttons, hook and loop material, hoops, a band, clips, hooks,flexible tabs, a hanger, and/or springs. It may be necessary toaccommodate some types of fasteners by attaching them to the helmet. Forexample, the snaps or hook and loop material fastener types includefirst and second complementary portions. The first portion is attachedto the cover 6, and its complementary second portion is attached to thehelmet corresponding to a location of the first portion on the cover 6when the cover 6 is installed on the helmet.

It is also contemplated that some fasteners are configure to be attachedto the helmet only, some fasteners are configured to be attached to thecover 6 only, and some fasteners are configured to be attached either tothe helmet or the cover 6. For example, hook fasteners can be attachedalong the rim 10 of the cover 6, or they can be attached along theinside of the helmet. As another example, the hoop fastener can beattached as described above to the cover 6 for convenience, butalternatively, the hoop fastener can remain unattached until installedto secure the cover 6 to the helmet.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe foregoing detailed description, which shows and describesillustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, theinvention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, allwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded asillustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, the reference ornon-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not beinterpreted to limit the scope of the invention. Various embodiments ofthe invention remain useable in tandem or combination of one another.

1. A decorative removable helmet cover comprising: a material thatcovers a helmet snugly; wherein said material has a front end portionand a back end portion, and wherein said material has a rim portion thatis used to attach said material snugly onto the underside portions ofsaid helmet.
 2. The decorative removable helmet cover of claim 1 whereinsaid rim portion is made of, or includes, elastic.
 3. The decorativeremovable helmet cover of claim 2 wherein said cover is made of aflexible material.
 4. The decorative removable helmet cover of claim 3wherein said flexible material is made of material selected from thegroup consisting of cloth, straw corduroy, velour, denim, linen, silk,and felt.
 5. The decorative removable helmet cover of claim 1 whereinsaid cover is made of material selected from the group consisting ofsuede, leather, polyester, nylon, straw, mesh, vinyl, plastic,glow-in-the dark material, reflective material, illuminative material,electroluminescent-phosphor-containing-material, T400™, ANTRON®,AVANTIGE®+LYCRA®, CORDURA®, DACRON®, LYCRA®, SOLARMAX®, SUPPLEX®,TACTEL®, and THERMOLITE®.
 6. The decorative removable helmet cover ofclaim 4 wherein said material is made of one continuous piece.
 7. Thedecorative removable helmet cover of claim 4 wherein said cover is madeof a plurality of pieces.
 8. The decorative removable helmet cover ofclaim 4 wherein said cover is made of pleated material.
 9. Thedecorative removable helmet cover of claim 4 wherein said cover is madeof material with piping.
 10. The decorative removable helmet cover ofclaim 4 wherein said cover displays art work.
 11. The decorativeremovable helmet cover of claim 10 wherein said art work is selectedfrom the group consisting of words, colors, college colors, sports teamcolors, crests, state or national flags, flame designs, motorcycles,cars, airplanes, boats, dice, cards, lips, body parts, militarycamouflage, beach scenes, starscapes, constellations, psychedelicpatterns, paisley patterns, plaid patterns, animal coat patterns,cartoon figures, and famous works of art.
 12. The decorative removablehelmet cover of claim 5 wherein said cover is made of one continuouspiece.
 13. The decorative removable helmet cover of claim 5 wherein saidcover is made of a plurality of pieces.
 14. The decorative removablehelmet cover of claim 5 wherein said cover is made of material withpiping.
 15. The decorative removable helmet cover of claim 5 whereinsaid cover displays art work.
 16. The decorative removable helmet coverof claim 15 wherein said art work is selected from the group consistingof words, colors, college colors, sports team colors, crests, state ornational flags, flame designs, motorcycles, cars, airplanes, boats,dice, cards, lips, body parts, military camouflage, beach scenes,starscapes, constellations, psychedelic patterns, paisley patterns,plaid patterns, animal coat patterns, cartoon figures, and famous worksof art.
 17. The decorative removable helmet cover of claim 2 furthercomprising one or more fasteners configured and arranged to attach saidmaterial snugly onto the underside portions of said helmet.
 18. Thedecorative removable helmet cover of claim 17 wherein said one or morefasteners is selected from the group consisting of a drawstring, one ormore zippers, snaps, buttons, hook and loop material, hoops, a band,clips, hooks, flexible tabs, a hanger, and springs.
 19. The decorativeremovable helmet cover of claim 5 further comprising one or morefasteners configured and arranged to attach said material snugly ontothe underside portions of said helmet.
 20. The decorative removablehelmet cover of claim 19 wherein said one or more fasteners is selectedfrom the group consisting of elastic, a drawstring, one or more zippers,snaps, buttons, hook and loop material, hoops, a band, clips, hooks,flexible tabs, a hanger, and springs.